In its letter , the Sports Ministry has drawn attention to the recommendations made by the IOC Seminar on 'Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement', held in February 2008, which were also endorsed by the XIII Olympic Congress, held in October 2009. Some of the core principles endorsed by the IOC and the Olympic Congress include: -

• Elections to sports bodies should be governed by clear, transparent, and fair rules (which in our view, should include, a clean electoral roll, known to the public in advance; an independent returning officer; and secret ballot)

• Adequate procedural regulations must exist to ensure there is no conflict of interests

• The terms of office, should be of limited duration, in order to allow, renewal of office bearers on a regular basis; and give access to new candidates

• Cooperation, coordination and consultation with government to preserve autonomy

The Government has reiterated the need for IOA and NSFs to comply with the 2001 Guidelines, including the modifications in respect of tenure limits issued vide circular dated 1st May 2010, which are fully in accordance with the good governance principles endorsed by the IOC and the Olympic Congress.

The Government has also drawn the attention of IOA and the NSFs to the recent concerns expressed by Parliament, the Courts as well as the general public and media, on the need to ensure good governance in sporting bodies. The Government has asked the IOA and the NSFs to take note of the Resolution passed by the XIII Olympic Congress, which underlines the essentiality of athletes' involvement in decision making, with full voting rights; and establishment of grievance redressal mechanism for athletes. These principles already form an integral part of the present Government guidelines. But the majority of NSFs, including IOA, are yet to fully implement these basic principles of good governance, the letter says.

The Government while reiterating the legality of the Guidelines, cited the observations of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in CWP 7868 of 2005 that the Government guidelines are legal, valid and enforceable, and not in violation of the Olympic Charter.

The Government has also asked IOA to circulate this communication to the members of the Executive Council and the General Assembly of IOA for thorough deliberations and appropriate decisions on the matter taking into account the Court ruling, Parliament directions and the expectations of the general public of India so that India should be at the forefront in Sports in the 21st century.